Reflections

Just over a week has gone by since the Fenwick HANDS Team has returned home from their time in the Dominican Republic. 

How long does it take before one moves back into the regular routine of everyday life? How long does it take before the muscles, aches and pain that occured because of the hard work recede to the point that the body also returns to 'normal'?  How long does it take for one's heart to return to where its supposed to be after being touched so much by the people and culture of the Dominican Republic?  How does one explain to someone else what was seen and experienced after the question, "So, how was your trip?"  How do we put to words about what God is doing in the DR, explaining his love, his grace, his care, his joy, his comfort and his hope in spite of the difficult circumstances seen in this country? 

I have no answers for you.  I have no answers for myself.  Each team member has had to come to terms with their own questions and thoughts.  Perhaps we aren't meant to answer any of these questions but only to understand that God knows the answers to these questions and so many more.  All our hearts and bodies have been touched by the eleven days in the Dominican Republic.  Only God's leading and time will begin to reveal the impact of our time there.

I am struck by the fact that each time I participate on a HANDS Team I experience God in different ways, often in very tangible ways.  My ability to see God is growing.  I saw him during the day when we work, when we drove to and from the work-site in a van, when we ate, when we did devotions...often for hours and when we spent our days together serving each other in love.  He is everywhere and in everything.  Love birds that sing, (yes even the roosters that obey his call to crow :), children who's voices ring out with the shouts of oral learning, people in earnest conversation or playing games together, people who join together to do a common job of building a school, absense of illness, women who graciously serve day after day to provide food and drink for tired Canadians, strength and courage to go out each day again and bless others, humbleness of team members as they are confronted with their lack of trust in our great and powerful God and then awed to silence as they see the provision he makes in personal ways, relationships that form powerfully and quickly and then must be separated.

Most team members will agree that their hearts and emotions are rather raw in the week(s) after a HANDS Team trip.  For some of us it will take time to hear what God has placed on our hearts; others may already know but be frightened of what God wants from us.  However for all, we are changed, we've been touched.  And it is our prayer that God will open up opportunities for us to use what he has taught us in our own families and communities.  One opportunity is to continue supporting the schools in the Dominican Republic, like the one we worked on, through the Sponsorship Program of Worldwide Christian Schools.  For $34 a month you can help these school provide funding for teacher training, salaries and other operational costs.  These schools provide education with a Biblical Worldview and its is transforming the hearts of the children and impacting their families and communities - we have SEEN this first hand.  For more information, please go to http://www.wwcs.ca/ .

Thank you for reading our blog over the past few months.  It has been a joy sharing with you what we were doing, our thoughts about the trip and keeping our families and church communities up to date while in the DR.  Karl and I, as team leaders, have once again been blessed immensely by so many people.  Thanks goes to:
*Tim Bootsma -  HANDS Co-ordinator at WWCS.  Tim has the big task of making sure all the teams that go out will actually get there, are safe, are trained and informed.  He has done a great job and we appreicate his coming out to our final meeting.
*Michele Ludwig - former HANDS Co-ordinator now in running the HEARTS, Sponsorhip and Walking Together Programs.  Michele joined us last minute and spent her time intereviewing students, teachers, administrators and teachers to find out how Christian Education in the DR is transforming lives and making a difference in the children and people of the DR.  Great job, Michele - can't wait to see the results of all your hard work.
*Gord and Nicole VanderLeek - a father and daughter team from Alberta.  Gord and I went to school for twelve years together and met once again at a class ruinion last summer. Gord and Nicole also came to our team in the later stages but you'd never have known it!  From the start it was like they had always been with us and we loved them dearly.  Gord and Nicole documented the interviews and took thousands of high quality photographs to be used in future promotional material for WWCS and perhaps, COCREF. 
*HANDS Team Members - you've all been like family - for over a year.  We were a small LIFE group, spent time praying, searching scripture, working, sleeping and playing together.  Its been a slice!  Thank you all for your hard work, your willingness to participate and do what needed to be done in fundraising, for having a spirit of generosity, helpfulness, grace and love to everyone we were in contact with - here and in the DR. 
*Families of Team Members - thank you so much for the care gifts you made for your families - you have no idea what its like to see your parents receive something from home and be so touched.  Many tears at these little gifts of love.  The third day is often the most difficult and these little touches of home from loved ones often continue the softening of our hearts - thank you for taking the time and making the effort to do this, for encouraging your familiy members to go on a HANDS Team and for continuing to keep your families in your prayers.
OUR DOMINICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS - wow, what can be said - thank you, gracious, mucho gracious!  You have blessed us so much.  It was a priviledge to be a part of your community and be the receivers of your love and mercy.  We have learned so much from you and it is my prayer that we will take what we have learned about love of God and love for others to our own families and communties.  Thank you for your generousity, for your care of us, for driving us around, for ignoring our complaints and for continuing to show the love of Christ to us day after day.
OUR CHURCH FAMILIES - thank you for all your prayers, encouragements, care, questions and financial contributions.  We cannot express what this has meant to us but even more what it has meant for the people and children of the DR.  We hope that in a few weeks we'll be able to show and tell you about our time.
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN - Lord, God - thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your care, love and provision over the year of prepartion and eleven days away, thank you for softened hearts, for the opportunity to see you everywhere in the midst of hard things, thank you for relationships that grew, for brothers and sisters in lands so very far away, and for your grace throughout our trip.

Well, sorry this is so long.  I pray you have been blessed by following our blog.  I hope to add a few pictures after this and that will be it.  We do have plans to take another HANDS Team in January 2013.  A long time away - yes, but we look foward to seeing what God will do with this team...DV.  If you are interested, speak to Karl or I and we will keep you informed.  In initial meeting will not take place until later in the year or early 2012.  To God be the Glory!

Our prayer for our Dominican brothers and sisters:
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."   Zeph 3:17